Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs (With Homemade Easter Egg Dye)

Easter is almost upon us again! How the past few months have flown by. Winter is drawing to a close, and Spring is starting to show signs of making an appearance. Celebrate your Easter morning and the start of spring with these naturally dyed Easter eggs using no chemicals. Only natural egg dyes made from plants and food scraps!

Easter in the religious calendar celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and dyed Easter eggs where traditionally given as gifts before chocolate and candy where introduced. Some say that red dyed eggs where given as reminder of 'The blood of Christ shed during the crucifixion" . Nowadays the act of giving Easter eggs has become more of a popular activity involving chocolate egg hunts.

Naturally dyed Easter eggs are easy to make at home, and make a great craft for kids! They are most often served at Easter Brunch along with many baked goods, brightly colored sweets, and specially prepared foods.

How To Make Your Own Plant Based Easter Egg Dye

These days most folks will go out and by chemical dyes to dye their Easter eggs. You can save a bit of money though and simply use vegetables scraps from the kitchen to make your own homemade Easter egg dyes!

Since all plants contain various natural pigments, with a little know how it's easy to manipulate them to create your own natural Easter egg dyes.

You can create fancy patterns by wrapping the eggs with leaves, ferns, and flower petals in a stocking or cheese cloth before dying. A white crayon can also be used to draw patterns or pictures on the eggs prior to dying.

Find out how to decorate dyed Easter eggs with plants here.

Dyeing Easter Eggs at Home

There are generally two methods used to dye boiled Easter eggs.

• In the first is the 'Hot Method' in which the eggs are boiled right in the water with the individual dye ingredients until the desired color is reached. The eggs are then cooled in the liquid to further intensify the color.
• The second is the 'Cold Method' and is my preferred method to naturally dye Easter eggs. In this method the dye and boiled eggs  are prepared separately. The boiled eggs are then placed in the dye overnight to color.

I prefer the second method because you have much more control over three things:

1. The done-ness of the egg
2. The intensity of the color - more vibrant colors are produced by soaking the eggs longer.
3. Any patterns you may want to imprint on the egg

I've included recipes for six easy to make homemade Easter egg dyes below using natural ingredients, and they all follow the same method of preparation. This makes making the homemade dye a simple task, and they can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for later use!

Did you know that brown and white eggs will react differently to natural dyes? Use this to your advantage and create stunning dyed eggs for Easter!

Homemade Easter Egg Dye Colors

So let's get to it and make some home made Easter egg dyes! For each of the various homemade dyes listed below take the plant material and simmer it in the water for 10 to 15 minutes unless otherwise noted. After simmering stir in the vinegar and let cool to room temperature. Strain the homemade Easter egg dye and store in glass jars for later use.

• The vinegar sets the dye, so don't add it to the liquid before you have a hue you are happy with! Dab a little of the dyed water on a white plate to see what the color is like.
• To achieve evenly dyed eggs, rinse and dry the cold boiled eggs before dying to remove any residue on the egg shell.
• For a deeper and richer color, place the eggs in the dye bath twice. Let them air dry in between and then rub with a pinch of coconut oil for a glossy sheen.

For Pink Eggs, and Red Eggs

• 1 red Beet peeled and diced - beet juice can also be used
• 2 cups of water
• 1 tablespoon vinegar

Note: The longer the eggs sit in the dye, the deeper the red color will be. 1 hour for pink, 3+ hours for red.

For Blue Eggs & Green Eggs

• ¼ red cabbage chopped or shredded
• 2 cups of water
• 1 tablespoon vinegar

Note: If using brown eggs with this dye the eggs will be dyed green

For Yellow Eggs

• 1 tablespoon Turmeric
• 2 cups of water
• 1 tablespoon vinegar

For Orange Eggs

• 1 cup packed yellow onion skins (The dry flakey bits) or 3 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 cups of water
• 1 tablespoon vinegar

For Tan Eggs

• 1 cup used coffee grounds or black coffee
• 2 cups of water
• 1 tablespoon vinegar

For Light Aqua Eggs

• ⅓ red Cabbage Shredded
• 2 cups of water
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon vinegar

Note: Simmer the cabbage for 30 minutes, then add the baking soda to the dye. Let the dye cool, before stirring in the vinegar.

The homemade Easter egg dye can all be prepared in advance and stored in mason jars in the fridge. and the eggs dyed the night before Easter.

I tend to boil my eggs the night before Easter and simply place the eggs in the jars of dye the night before Easter. The longer the eggs sit in the dye the stronger the pigment will be.

Have you seen our web story on making your own Easter egg dyes? Find it here: Natural Easter Egg Dyes

Made the recipe or have a color combo you tried that's not listed? Comment & Rate the post below, then take a picture and tag me on Facebook & Instagram: @earthfoodandfire . For more from scratch recipes follow me on Instagram & Pinterest